It looks as if the RB depth charts for at least two NFL teams has changed over the past week or so and a few former RB handcuffs have had their roles expanded to become lead RBs. If you’ve been a fantasy football manager for a while it really should come as no surprise since the RB position is extremely volatile. 

 

 

 

RBs lose their jobs all the time whether it’s due to injuries and the grueling nature of the position, or just plain old ineptitude on the part of individual players. As we head into Week 8 this is a good time to focus on rostering high quality RB handcuffs who have a realistic path to a starting job. 

Fantasy Football NFL Week 8 Running Back Handcuff Report

It looks like Devin Singletary is one of those RBs that we referenced above who went from leader of the pack to RB handcuff. Singletary missed Weeks 5 and 6 and that allowed Tyrone Tracy to show head coach Brian Daboll what he can do on the football field. 

According to Daboll, Tracy Jr. has earned the right to “get plenty of playing time”. That quote played out on the football field as Singletary played his lowest offensive snap rate percentage (21%) of the season in Week 7. Tracy Jr.’s offensive snaps played percentage was more than three times as many as Singletary’s in Week 7. 

 

 

 

How To Find The Best RB Handcuffs

Speaking of RBs who have earned the right to get more playing time, look no further than Jacksonville Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby. There’s been no official word from the Jaguars as this article is being written, but it’s looking like Bigsby also is poised to make the leap from RB handcuff to lead RB. 

He’s had an expanded role in the Jaguars offense with Travis Etienne dealing with injuries that initially slowed him down, and then ultimately caused him to be inactive in Week 7. In Etienne’s absence Bigsby played a season high 40 snaps against the New England Patriots in London, and he basically was the entire Jaguars’ offense in the second half of the game. Bigsby definitely looks like an RB handcuff who is capable of leading the Jaguars’ backfield moving forward.

Cincinnati Bengals RB Chase Brown has actually made the leap from RB handcuff to lead back over the past few weeks. Back in Week 4 Brown played just 40% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps and Zack Moss played 60% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps, but they each had 15 carries. 

In Week 5 Brown had 12 carries compared to nine for Moss and he averaged over a yard more per carry than Moss. Brown’s increased usage trend has continued in Weeks 6 and 7 and at this point Moss has morphed into Bengals’ passing down back and Chase Browns’ RB handcuff.

 

 

 

Top 5 RB Handcuffs Ahead Of NFL Week 8

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

The Saints’ depth charts that I’ve seen still list Jamaal Williams as Alvin Kamara’s RB handcuff but in Week 7 Miller played 20 snaps compared to 12 for Williams. Kamara recently revealed that he broke his hand back in Week 5 and has been able to play through it. 

However, prior to Week 5 he was averaging 4.53 YPC, and from Week 5 through Week 7 he only averaged 2.45 YPC. I don’t know about you but if one of the top RBs on my fantasy team has a broken hand, no matter how tough he is, I want to roster his RB handcuff and to me that is Miller. 

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

No one could ever really replace Derrick Henry and what he’s meant to the Ravens’ offense this season but with how much the Ravens depend on being able to run the ball, Hill is a great RB handcuff to roster. 

The Ravens also opened Keaton Mitchell’s (torn ACL) practice window making him another Baltimore RB to add to your watch list. He returned to the practice field on Wednesday and will need to be moved to the 53-man roster by November 13 in order to play this season. 

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles

Like Henry, Saquon Barkley has become a huge part of the Eagles’ offense this season. He almost single-handedly beat the New York Giants on Sunday. 

He does have a history of being somewhat injury prone and that makes Gainwell an important RB handcuff to roster for fantasy football managers who already roster Barkley. He might even be worth rostering in deeper leagues because of his potential fantasy production should Barkley be forced to miss time. 

Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers

Brooks (torn ACL) got in a limited practice on Wednesday and has a chance to be active for the Panthers’ matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 8. The Panthers have the option of holding off on activating Brooks until next week but whether he plays in Week 8 or Week 9 he’ll likely be eased into action and initially he’ll likely serve as Chuba Hubbard’s RB handcuff. 

Brooks does have an extremely high ceiling and while Hubbard has performed well this season, he may find himself sharing the Panthers’ backfield with Brooks before too long.

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

Davis was on this list last week as well, and while James Cook returned to action in Week 7 after being inactive in Week 6 due to a toe injury, he only rushed for 2.67 YPC. 

His RB handcuff, Ray Davis, had five carries for 41 rushing yards (8.2 YPC) and he scored a TD. I don’t think Cook is in any immediate danger of losing his job, but should he be unavailable Davis could seamlessly slip into his role as the Bills’ lead RB.